24 June 2020: PIB Summary & Analysis

June 24th, 2020 PIB:- Download PDF Here

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Annual TB Report 2020
2. Credit Guarantee Scheme for Sub-ordinate Debt (CGSSD)
3. Animal Husbandry Infrastructure Development Fund
4. Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Centre (IN-SPACe)
5. Pradhan Mantri MUDRA Yojana
6. Commission to examine sub-categorisation within OBC
7. Kala-azar
8. Skills Build Reignite

1. Annual TB Report 2020

Context:

Union Health Minister releases the Annual TB Report 2020.

Details:

• The Minister also released a Joint Monitoring Mission (JMM) report, a manual on Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) to TB patients under NIKSHAY system.
• The Annual TB Report is prepared and published by the Central TB Division, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, GOI.

Highlights of the Report:

• There were 20.04 lakh notified TB patients in 2019 in India, which is a 14% increase from 2018.
• The country is achieving near-complete on-line notification of TB patients through the NIKSHAY system.
• There has been a reduction in the number of missing cases to 2.9 lakh cases as against more than 10 lakhs in 2017.
• Private sector notifications increased by 35% with 6.78 lakh TB patients notified.
• Due to easy availability of molecular diagnostics, the proportion of children diagnosed with TB increased to 8% in 2019 compared to 6% in 2018.
• Provision of HIV testing for all notified TB patients increased from 67% in 2018 to 81% in 2019.
• Expansion of treatment services has resulted in a 12% improvement in the treatment success rate of notified patients. For 2019, it is 81% compared to 69% in 2018.
• More than 4.5 lakh DOT Centres provide treatment covering almost every village across the country.
• NIKSHAY also expanded the provision of four Direct Benefit Transfers (DBT) schemes of the programme:
  • Nikshay Poshan Yojana (NPY) to TB patients
  • The incentive to Treatment Supporters
  • Incentive to Private Providers and
  • Transport incentive to TB patients in the notified tribal areas
• The GOI is committed to achieving the SDG goal of eliminating TB in the country by 2025, five years ahead of the global target.
• To align with the ambitious goal, the programme has been renamed from Revised National Tuberculosis Control Program (RNTCP) to National Tuberculosis Elimination Program (NTEP).

About the National Tuberculosis Elimination Program (NTEP):

• It is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme being implemented under the aegis of the National Health Mission with resource sharing between the State Governments and the Central Government.
• The goal of the program is to achieve a TB-free India with zero deaths, disease and poverty due to tuberculosis.

About the Nikshay system:

• It is an information management system that acts like a one-stop solution for managing patients’ information and monitor program activity and performance all over the country.
• It is developed and maintained by the Central TB Division (CTD), Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, in collaboration with the National Informatics Centre (NIC), and the World Health Organization Country office for India.
• Nikshay is used by health functionaries at various levels across the country both in the public and private sector, to register cases under their care, order various types of tests from labs across the country, record treatment details, monitor treatment adherence and to transfer cases between care providers.
• It also functions as the National TB Surveillance System and enables reporting of various surveillance data to the Government of India.

Also read: Tuberculosis.

2. Credit Guarantee Scheme for Sub-ordinate Debt (CGSSD)

Context:

MSME Minister launched a new scheme for the distressed MSME sector called the Credit Guarantee Scheme for Sub-ordinate Debt (CGSSD).

About Credit Guarantee Scheme for Sub-ordinate Debt (CGSSD):

• It is also called the ‘Distressed Assets Fund–Sub-ordinate Debt for MSMEs’.
• As per the Scheme, guarantee cover worth Rs. 20,000 crores will be provided to the promoters who can take debt from the banks to further invest in their stressed MSMEs as equity.
• The scheme was announced by the Finance Minister as part of the Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan.
• The scheme seeks to extend support to the promoter(s) of the operational MSMEs which are stressed and have become NPAs as on 30^th April, 2020.
• Promoter(s) of the MSMEs will be given credit equal to 15% of their stake (equity plus debt) or Rs. 75 lakh whichever is lower.
• Promoter(s) in turn will infuse this amount in the MSME unit as equity and thereby enhance the liquidity and maintain the debt-equity ratio.
• 90% guarantee coverage for this sub-debt will be given under the Scheme and 10% would come from the concerned promoters.
• There will be a moratorium of 7 years on payment of principal whereas the maximum tenor for repayment will be 10 years.
• It is expected that this scheme would provide much-required support to around 2 lakh MSMEs and will help in reviving the economic activity in and through this sector. It will also help in protecting the livelihoods and jobs of millions of people who depend on them.

3. Animal Husbandry Infrastructure Development Fund

Context:

The Cabinet approved the setting up of the Rs. 15000 crore Animal Husbandry Infrastructure Development Fund (AHIDF).

About the AHIDF:

• This Fund is expected to incentive infrastructure investments in dairy, meat processing and animal feed plants.
• The eligible beneficiaries under the Scheme would be Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs), MSMEs, Section 8 Companies, Private Companies and individual entrepreneur with only 10% margin money contribution by them.
• The balance 90% would be the loan component to be made available to them by scheduled banks.
• GOI will provide 3% interest subvention to eligible beneficiaries.
• There will be 2 years moratorium period for repayment of the loan with 6 years repayment period thereafter.
• GOI would also set up a Credit Guarantee Fund of Rs. 750 crore to be managed by NABARD which would provide credit guarantee to the projects which are covered under the MSME defined ceilings. Guarantee Coverage would be up to 25% of the Credit facility of the borrower.
• Benefits:
  • The AHIDF with the interest subvention scheme for private investors will ensure the availability of capital to meet upfront investment required for these projects and also help enhance overall returns/pay back for investors.
  • Such investments in processing and value addition infrastructure by eligible beneficiaries would also promote exports.
  • This is also expected to add to farmers’ incomes.

4. Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Centre (IN-SPACe)

Context:

The Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Centre has been created to provide private players to use Indian space infrastructure.

About IN-SPACe:

• IN-SPACe will help private players through encouraging policies, through a regulatory environment that is friendly as well as guiding private players in space activities.
• Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) will remain the basic body that decides what missions are to be undertaken but this new body will help fill the gaps.
• Private companies will be provided level playing field in satellites, launches and space-based services. Future projects for planetary exploration, outer space travel will be open for the private sector.

4. Pradhan Mantri MUDRA Yojana

Context:

2% Interest Subvention approved on prompt repayment of Shishu Loans under Pradhan Mantri MUDRA Yojana for a period of 12 months.

Details:

• This development is as per the announcement made under the Atmanirbhar Bharat programme.
• It will be implemented by the SIDBI.
• The Scheme has been formulated as a specific response to an unprecedented situation and aims to alleviate financial stress for borrowers at the ‘bottom of the pyramid’ by reducing their cost of credit.
• The Scheme is expected to provide much needed relief to the sector, thereby enabling small businesses to continue functioning without laying off employees due to lack of funds.

To know more about the MUDRA Yojana, click on the linked article.

5. Commission to examine sub-categorisation within OBC

Context:

The Cabinet has approved the extension of the term of the Commission to examine the issue of Sub-categorization of Other Backward Classes, by 6 months i.e. up to 31.1.2021.

Details:

• The Communities in the existing list of OBCs which have not been able to get any major benefit of the scheme of reservation for OBCs for appointment in Central Government posts and for admission in Central Government Educational Institutions are expected to be benefitted upon implementation of the recommendations of the Commission.
• The Commission is likely to make recommendations for benefit of such marginalized communities in the Central List of OBCs.

Background:

• The Commission was constituted under article 340 of the Constitution with the approval of the President in October 2017.
• It is chaired by Justice (Retd.) Smt. G. Rohini.

Also read: Sub-categorisation for OBCs

6. Kala-azar

Context:

Team of scientists unveils new biomolecules to fight drug resistance in Kala-azar.

About Kala-azar:

• Kala-azar, also called, visceral leishmaniasis, is the most severe form of leishmaniasis and, without proper diagnosis and treatment, is associated with high fatality.
• Leishmaniasis is a disease caused by protozoan parasites of the genus Leishmania.
• It is transmitted through the bite of sand bites.
• Leishmaniasis is a neglected tropical disease affecting almost 100 countries including India.
• There are three main forms of leishmaniasis:
  • Visceral, which affects multiple organs and is the most serious form of the disease
  • Cutaneous, which causes skin sores and is the most common form
  • Mucocutaneous, which causes skin and mucosal lesion
• The only drug available against leishmaniasis, miltefosine, is rapidly losing its effectiveness because of emerging resistance to this drug due to a decrease in its accumulation inside the parasite, which is necessary for the drug to kill the parasite.
• Specific types of protein molecules, called transporter proteins, play a major role in carrying miltefosine into and out of the parasite’s body, which comprises a single cell.
• A protein called ‘P4ATPase-CDC50’ is responsible for intake of the drug by the parasite, and another protein, called ‘P-glycoprotein’ is responsible for throwing this drug out from within the parasite’s body.
• A decrease in the activity of the former protein, and an increase in the activity of the latter results in less amounts of miltefosine being accumulated inside the parasite’s body, thus causing it to become resistant to the drug.

7. Skills Build Reignite

Context:

MSDE-IBM partnership unveils Free Digital Learning Platform “Skills Build Reignite” to reach more job seekers & provide new resources to business owners in India. [MSDE: Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship]

Details:

• The free digital learning platform ‘Skills Build Reignite’ provides job seekers and entrepreneurs, with access to free online coursework and mentoring support designed to help them reinvent their careers and businesses.
• Job seekers, individual business owners, entrepreneurs and any individual with learning aspirations can access content on topics including Artificial intelligence, Cloud, Data analytics and security to reskill and upskill themselves, at no cost.
• There is also personalized coaching for entrepreneurs, seeking advice to help establish or restart their small businesses as they begin to focus on recovery to emerge out of the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Courses for small business owners include, for example, financial management, business strategy, digital strategy, legal support and more.

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